Maria Theresa Thaler

If you are not familiar with the
Maria Theresa Thaler (a.k.a. M.T. Thaler), you will find
interesting and useful information about this silver bullion
coin below. Although usually not a rare coin, it has a unique
and rich history which makes it a popular, collectable coin
internationally.

Several different silver thalers
(referred to as talers in German speaking countries) were
produced by different countries for centuries to be used for
trade purposes. But none are as well known as the M.T. Thaler.
The coin is named after Empress Maria Theresa who ruled Austria,
Hungary and Bohemia from 1740 to 1780. The first M.T. Thaler was
struck in 1741.

The obverse of the thaler at left
features the image of the mature Empress wearing a widow`s veil
and a brooch with nine pearls.

The Latin inscription around the
edge of the coin reads “M. THERESIA D.G.R. IMP. HU. BO .REG.”
which translates to: Maria Theresa, by the grace of God Roman
Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. Her additional titles are
continued on the coin’s reverse. Below the bust you will see the
initials “S.F.”, which are the names of the two Günzburg mint
officials in 1780, Tobias Schöbl (S) and Joseph Faby (F).

The reverse shows the imperial
double-headed eagle with the arms of Austria at the center,
surrounded by four quarters representing Hungary, Bohemia,
Burgundy and Burgau (Günzburg). The inscription reads “ARCHID.
AUST. DUX. BURG. CO. TYR. 1780? and translates: Archduchess of
Austria, Duchess of Burgundy, Countess of Tyrol, 1780. The
raised edge of the coin (not shown) has the motto of the Empress
“Justitia et Clementia” (Justice and Clemency) with a variety of
ornaments.

Most M.T. Thalers Are
Not Rare

As mentioned above these silver
coins, as historical as they are, are not that rare. There have
been an estimated 800 million Maria Theresa thalers struck since
1780. This is due in part to several other nations producing these
thalers as authorized by the Austrian government. That is no
longer true today but freshly minted M.T. Thalers are still
currently available.

If you were to visit the Austrian mint’s
web site, you would see these thalers (talers)
available in uncirculated and proof versions. Look at them
closely and you will see they are modern restrikes with a 1780
date.

If you are not familiar with the
term restrike, it simply means a coin that is minted later than
the date stamped on the coin. In this case, the date (1780) has
been “frozen” for all coins minted from 1780 to the present
date. But to qualify as a true restrike, a coin must be produced
by the original mint/government or mints in other countries with
the permission of the original government.

M.T. Thalers similar to the one
shown above were issued during Maria Theresa’s lifetime but
these are dated before 1780 (there have been variations in this
coin’s appearance from the early ones minted to the present day
as well as those minted by other countries). Some of the
pre-1780 thalers are more valuable depending on their scarcity
and condition. Almost all examples dated 1780 are restrikes.
Those that are not restrikes will be advertised as “not a
restrike” or something similar.

Intrinsic Value

As mentioned under Weight and
Content above, the M.T. Thaler contains .7520 troy ounces of
silver. To find the intrinsic value of this coin, multiply .7520
times the current spot price of silver which can be found at the
Kitco web site.
As an example, if the spot price of silver is at U.S. $20.00…

.7520 x $20.00 = $15.04

You should expect to pay a little
over the intrinsic value for a restruck coin in good condition
up to maybe twice the intrinsic value for a proof coin plus, of
course, the current premium.

World’s Most Beautiful
Coin?

Some might describe this as the
world’s most beautiful coin but I like to think of it as one of the most
beautiful and famous silver coins in the world. It certainly has
a rich history and one worthy of your consideration as an
addition to your coin collection. If you decide to invest in one
or more M.T. Thalers, be sure to deal with a reputable dealer as
counterfeit thalers do exist.

Disclaimer:
I have made every reasonable effort to produce an informative and
helpful article on Maria Theresa Thalers based on my research and
experiences. However, I make no representation or warranties of
any kind with regard to its completeness, accuracy or suitability
for any specific situation or purpose.